AU2002100030A4 - Improved guide post - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 Peter Geoffrey Turner, Dennis Wynwood

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

INNOVATION

PATENT

Invention Title: Improved guide post The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- Field of the Invention The present invention relates to guide posts, which term is used in this specification to include posts used in roadside locations to guide automotives, as well as similar posts used as indicators, barriers and supports for warning signs and materials at building sites, sporting events, in agricultural environments and the like.

Background Art It is well known to provide roadside guide posts to assist motorists to delineate the road in the dark or during other periods of impaired visibility.

There are many different types of such guide posts and the present invention is designed to provide an alternative to such known types of guide posts.

Such posts may also be used as indicators, barriers and supports for warning signs and materials at building sites, sporting events, in agricultural environments and the like.

Disclosure of the Invention In one aspect the invention provides a guide post formed of a thin sheet of a metal material and having a channel shaped cross section including a central web and a pair of angled flanges either side of said central web, the post having a first elongate aperture formed in said central web at a distance from a lower end of the post which is indicative of the distance the post should be driven into the ground in use, the aperture being so sized and configured that if the post is struck by a car or like object above ground level the post will bend at the level of the aperture.

In another aspect the invention provides a guide post formed of a thin sheet of a metal material and having a channel shaped cross section including a central web and a pair of angled flanges either side of said central web, the post having a first vertical aperture formed in said central web at a distance from a lower end of the post which is indicative of the distance the post should be driven into the ground in use, the aperture being so sized and configured that if the post is struck by a car or like object above ground level the post will bend at the level of the aperture.

In another aspect the invention provides a guide post formed of a thin sheet of a metal material and having a channel shaped cross section including a central web and a pair of angled flanges either side of said central web, the post having a first vertical elongate aperture formed in said central web at a distance from a lower end of the post which is indicative of the distance the post should be driven into the ground in use, the aperture being so sized and configured that if the post is struck by a car or like object above ground level the post will bend at the level of the aperture; and a pair of spaced apart second vertical elongate apertures formed in said central web between said first elongate aperture and the top of said post.

The present invention also relates to a guide post and clamping accessory assemblage, the guide post being formed of a thin sheet of a metal material and having a channel shaped cross section, the guide post having at least two connection members which are arranged in spaced apart array along the length of the guide post, the clamping accessory including an elongate body having at least two complementary connection means, the at least two complementary connection means being spaced apart along the length of the elongate body such that they may each engage with one of the connection means on the guide post and retain the elongate body in close juxtaposition with one face of the guide post. The connection means are preferably formed as either hooks or holes. The complementary connection means will be formed as the opposite form of connection means in each case so that the guide post and the clamping accessory may be connected together.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the guide post is formed from pressed steel and is provided with a point at a lower end. The holes forming the complementary connection means are preferably two in number and are respectively positioned near the top of the guide post and sufficiently above the lower end of the guide post that it will be well clear of the ground when the post has been driven into the ground. If desired the convex face of the post may be painted white as a warning mechanism. The post may if desired also be provided with light reflective means on one or both of its faces.

The clamping accessory is preferably formed with an elongate body of a channel section metal sheet material. The body is preferably provided with a pair of hook like members that project laterally from one face of the body.

These hook like members are preferably connected to the base of the channel section body on its concave side and are of sufficient length that they each projects beyond the body sufficiently that it may be extended through one of the holes in the guide post. The hook like members may be formed of round bar section metal material or flat section metal material. In the former case the material may be formed into a generally U-shape and one arm of the U welded, or otherwise connected, to the base of the channel section body. The U-shape of the bar forming the hook like shape that projects through the apertures in the guide post and holds the body in close juxtaposition with one of the faces of the guide post. If the hook like member is formed of flat section material then it if preferably connected to the base of the channel section body of the clamping accessory with the plane of the material aligned with the longitudinal axis of the body. Each piece of flat section material is formed on its edge which lies adjacent to a lower end of the body with a notch or slot.

The notch or slot is so dimensioned and positioned that when the respective hook like members are caused to project through the holes in the guide post, the body may be moved a little towards the lower end of the guide post and the notches or slots will engage with the guide post adjacent the holes to hold the body in juxtaposition with the guide post.

Accordingly, in another aspect the invention provides a guide post formed of a thin sheet of a metal material and having a channel shaped cross section including a central web and a pair of angled flanges either side of said central web, the post having a first vertical elongate aperture formed in said central web at a distance from a lower end of the post which is indicative of the distance the post should be driven into the ground in use, the aperture being so sized and configured that if the post is struck by a car or like object above ground level the post will bend at the level of the aperture, and a pair of spaced apart second vertical elongate apertures formed in said central web between said first elongate aperture and the top of said post which are adapted for cooperation with a clamping accessory having a pair of spaced apart hook like members wherein each of said hook like members engage the corresponding second aperture in said central web to removably fix said clamping accessory to said post.

In one embodiment of the invention the clamping accessory is used to clamp a mesh bunting used as a warning and demarcation device to one of a series of guide posts. In another embodiment the clamping accessory has attached to it, on the side distant to the hook like members, a sign, such as a roadside warning sign. In yet another embodiment of the invention the clamping accessory is of such a length that it projects vertically above the upper end of the guide post. In this embodiment of the invention warning lamps and the like may be attached to the upper end of the clamping accessory.

The guide post may be formed with engagement means which are adapted to engage with apertures in another post of similar cross section such that the two posts are held in face to face juxtaposition. The guide post is, in this form of the invention, preferably formed with a pair of engagement means in the base of the channel shaped cross section in spaced apart array.

Such engagement means are also adapted to receive between them a panel like indicia bearing sign and to hold it in close juxtaposition with the post. In each case the engagement means may include a hook shaped tabs punched out of the material of the guide post leaving an adjacent aperture in the guide post. The two hook like tabs formed in each guide post preferably face towards one another with the two associated apertures between them.

The guide post is preferably formed adjacent an upper end of the post with a light reflecting member on at least one side of the post. This may include a strip of a light reflective tape attached to the post. Alternatively a disk-like light reflective member may be secured to the post by a rod extending through the thickness of the post and having an abutment on one side of the post, on the other side of the post the rod extends through an aperture in the reflector and carries on its free end an axle nut.

Brief description of the drawings Hereinafter given by way of example only is a preferred embodiment of the present invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a guide post according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of a clamping accessory forming part of the assemblage according to a further aspect of the present invention, Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through a second embodiment of a clamping accessory forming part of the assemblage according to the aspect of the present invention, Figure 4 is a cross sectional view along section A-A of the clamping accessory of Fig. 2, Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through an assemblage according to a further aspect of the present invention, and Figure 6 is a cross sectional view through another assemblage according to the further aspect of the present invention.

Preferred embodiment of the present Invention The guide post 110 shown in Figure 1 as a roadside guide post or as a construction guide post. If it is to be used as a roadside guide post it is required to be painted white to comply with the appropriate standards.

The post 110 is preferably formed from rolled steel that has been galvanised or otherwise provided with a sacrificial coating. It may however be formed from any other suitable metallic material.

The post 110, as seen in Figure 1, comprises a rolled steel section having a central web 111, a pair of angled flanges 112 flanking the central section 111, and a pair of lateral flanges 113 that flank the angled flanges 112 and lie in a plane parallel to that of the central web 111. The lower end of the post 110 is chamfered to give the post a generally pointed lower end 114.

A guide hole 115 is formed through the web 111 above the pointed end 114. It is positioned a distance above the pointed end such that when the post is driven into the ground until the hole 115 is just at ground level the post 110 will project above the ground by a desired amount. In the case of roadside posts this height is commonly determined by the local standard and it is therefore important that the post 110 is driven into the ground the correct amount. The hole 115 is preferably so dimensioned that the drivability of the post 110 is not reduced unduly. For this reason it is preferable that the hole is elongated in a vertical direction rather than horizontally.

The hole 115 serves, as well as indicating the depth to which the post is to be driven, two other important functions. Firstly the hole forms a zone of unexpected weakness in the post such that when it is struck transversely it will fold in a controlled manner rather than have a tendency to be ripped from the ground. Secondly the hole can serve as a connection point to which may be connected extraction means to remove a driven post from the ground.

In respect of the first function it is a problem with many known posts that if struck by a motor vehicle the post can be ripped from the ground and may be driven into the vehicle and injure its occupants. By providing a point of weakness at ground level the present inventors have found that the post 110 will bend at the point of weakness rather than be ripped from the ground. It has also proven possible to straighten the post in-situ a number of times before the post is weakened and breaks. In respect of the second function the hole provides a convenient way in which post withdrawal means may be connected to the post in a convenient manner.

The guide post 110 is a roadside guide post or as a construction guide post. If it is to be used as a roadside guide post at least the front face of the guide post is required to be painted white to comply with the appropriate standards. The guide post 110 is pressed from sheet steel that has been galvanised or otherwise provided with a sacrificial coating.

The post 110, as seen in fig. 1, has a central web 111, a pair of angled flanges 112 flanking the central section 111, and a pair of lateral flanges 113 that flank the angled flanges 112 and lie in the same plane as the central section 111. The lower end of the post 110 is chamfered to give the post 110 a generally pointed lower end 114.

A guide hole 115 is formed through the web 111 above the pointed lower end 114. It is positioned a distance above the pointed end such that when the post is driven into the ground until the hole 115 is just at ground level the post will project above the ground by a desired amount. In the case of roadside guide posts this height is commonly determined by local standards. It is therefore important that the guide post is driven into the ground the correct amount. The hole 115 is preferably so dimensioned that the drivability of the post is not unduly reduced by the presence of the hole.

The hole also serves to provide a zone of lateral weakness in the guide post so that if hit by a car it will buckle and bend over at ground level rather than be flicked from the ground and thrown in a way that could damage surrounding people or property.

Between the hole 115 and the upper end of the guide post 110 are formed a pair of holes 116. These holes 116 are each in the form of an elongate slot in the mid line of the web 111. The upper end of the guide post 110 may be provided with light reflective means such as the reflective sticker 117.

The clamping accessory 118 comprised a channel section body 119 formed from pressed steel. The channel section of the body 119 is made up of a base portion 121 and a pair of substantially parallel side arms 122. The side arms 122 are spaced apart from one another by a distance just less than the width of the web 111 of the guide post 110. In the concave side of the body 119 are positioned a pair of hook like members 123 which are welded, or otherwise connected, to the base 121. The hook like members 123 each lie in a plane parallel to the side arms 122 and are of such a length that they project from the base portion 121 further than do the side arms 122. The hook like members 123 on each body 119 are spaced apart by a distance equal to the distance between the holes 116 in one of the guide posts 110.

Each of the hook like members is provided with means to form its hook like properties. In the case of the embodiment of the invention shown in fig 2 each hook like member 123 is formed of a flat steel tab that is provided on its lower side with a slot 124 at a point that is beyond the extent of the channel section body 119 of the clamping accessory 118. This slot 124 is adapted to engage with the web 111 adjacent the lower side of a respective one of the holes 116 in the web 111 and to hold the clamping accessory 118 closely against one or other face of the guide post 110. The embodiment of the invention illustrated with reference to fig 3 is essentially similar however the hook like members 123 are formed from round steel bar stock. This bar stock is bent into V-shaped lengths and one arm of each length is welded, or otherwise connected, to the base portion 122 of a clamping accessory 118.

The width of the V-shaped lengths of bar stock is such that the other arm of each piece extends beyond the extent of the channel section body 119 of the clamping accessory 118. This other arm of each of the hook like members 123 also serves to engage with the web 111 adjacent the lower side of a respective one of the holes 116 in the web 111 and to hold the clamping accessory 118 closely against one or other face of the guide post 110.

If desired one or more of the hook like members 123 on each clamping accessory 118 may be formed with some form of locking means allowing it to be locked onto a guide post 110. In the case of the embodiment of the invention shown in fig 2 this may comprise a hole 125 formed in one of the hook like members 123. Once the clamping accessory 118 has been assembled with a guide post 110 a small padlock may be engaged through the hole 125 to prevent the clamping accessory 118 and the guide post 110 being disassembled until the padlock has been removed.

In one arrangement the clamping accessory 118 is provided on the convex side of the base portion 122 with a warning sign, as is seen in fig. The clamping accessory 118 is, in this case connected with the convex side of the guide post 110. In another arrangement, shown in fig. 6, the clamping accessory 118 is used to clamp a sheet of orange plastic bunting onto one of a line of guide posts 110.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the 9 specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (4)

1. A guide post formed of a thin sheet of a metal material and having a channel shaped cross section including a central web and a pair of angled flanges either side of said central web, the post having a first elongate aperture formed in said central web at a distance from a lower end of the post which is indicative of the distance the post should be driven into the ground in use, the aperture being so sized and configured that if the post is struck by a car or like object above ground level the post will bend at the level of the aperture.

2. A guide post formed of a thin sheet of a metal material and having a channel shaped cross section including a central web and a pair of angled flanges either side of said central web, the post having a first vertical aperture formed in said central web at a distance from a lower end of the post which is indicative of the distance the post should be driven into the ground in use, the aperture being so sized and configured that if the post is struck by a car or like object above ground level the post will bend at the level of the aperture.

3. A guide post formed of a thin sheet of a metal material and having a channel shaped cross section including a central web and a pair of angled flanges either side of said central web, the post having a first vertical elongate aperture formed in said central web at a distance from a lower end of the post which is indicative of the distance the post should be driven into the ground in use, the aperture being so sized and configured that if the post is struck by a car or like object above ground level the post will bend at the level of the aperture, and a pair of spaced apart second vertical elongate apertures formed in said central web between said first elongate aperture and the top of said post.

4. A guide post formed of a thin sheet of a metal material and having a channel shaped cross section including a central web and a pair of angled flanges either side of said central web, the post having a first vertical elongate aperture formed in said central web at a distance from a lower end of the post which is indicative of the distance the post should be driven into the ground in use, the aperture being so sized and configured that if the post is struck by a car or like object above ground level the post will bend at the level of the aperture, and a pair of spaced apart second vertical elongate apertures formed in said central web between said first elongate aperture and the top of said post which are adapted for cooperation with a clamping accessory having a pair of spaced apart hook like members wherein each of said hook like members engage the corresponding second apertures in said central web to removably fix said clamping accessory to said post. A guide post according to any one of claims 1 to 4 substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the figures. Dated this fifteenth day of January 2002 Peter Geoffrey Turner, Dennis Wynwood Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F B RICE CO